ADDIS ABABA-The U.S Embassy hosted the annual Africa English language fellows midyear conference that also marked 50th anniversary of English Language Fellow program yesterday.
The conference brought together more than 20 English language fellows serving in 13 African countries such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Mauritania, Niger, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Togo to share best practices and strengthen the network of English Language Fellow in Africa.
The event coincided with the 50th anniversary of the U.S Department of State’s English Language Fellow program, which fosters mutual understanding, promote English language learning and enhances English teaching capacity aboard. English Language Fellows model and demonstrate up to date TEFL classroom practices that help foster thoughtful and responsible behavior in students and teachers of English.
George M.Chinnery Regional Language Officer (RELO) Central and East Africa at U.S Embassy told The Ethiopian Herald that the English Language Fellows and English Language Specialists will travel to Bahir Dar, Haramaya, Jimma, Addis Ababa and Gambella to provide training to students and English language teachers in Ethiopia as well as at refugee settlements.
Amanda Jacobson, Public Affairs Officer at U.S Embassy said, “this program invests in the capacity of English language students and teachers in Ethiopia and around the world by sending experienced American teachers to share their professional expertise and experience.”
Since 2002, about 25 U.S English Language Fellows have served in Ethiopia. Through the program, U.S educators with expertise in teaching English are placed at academic institutions to provide training to students and teachers alike.
Globally, the program has sent over 1000 English Language Fellows to more than 80 countries.
The Ethiopian Herald February 21/2019
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
